barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第43节
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upon that score。 They are desperate。 Your own appearance is by
no means despicable； and our joint pocket…money alone devours
our income。 That’s the truth。’
‘Why have I never known this before？ Why have you
encouraged me； sir； to an expenditure and mode of life to which
we have no right or title？’
‘My good fellow；’ returned his father more compassionately
than ever； ‘if you made no appearance； how could you possibly
succeed in the pursuit for which I destined you？ As to our mode of
life； every man has a right to live in the best way he can； and to
make himself as comfortable as he can； or he is an unnatural
scoundrel。 Our debts； I grant； are very great； and therefore it the
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more behoves you； as a young man of principle and honour； to pay
them off as speedily as possible。’
‘The villain’s part；’ muttered Edward； ‘that I have
unconsciously played！ I to win the heart of Emma Haredale！ I
would； for her sake； I had died first！’
‘I am glad you see； Ned；’ returned his father； ‘how perfectly self…
evident it is； that nothing can be done in that quarter。 But apart
from this； and the necessity of your speedily bestowing yourself on
another （as you know you could to…morrow； if you chose）； I wish
you’d look upon it pleasantly。 In a religious point of view alone；
how could you ever think of uniting yourself to a Catholic； unless
she was amazingly rich？ You ought to be so very Protestant；
coming of such a Protestant family as you do。 Let us be moral；
Ned； or we are nothing。 Even if one could set that objection aside；
which is impossible； we come to another which is quite conclusive。
The very idea of marrying a girl whose father was killed； like meat！
Good God； Ned； how disagreeable！ Consider the impossibility of
having any respect for your father…in…law under such unpleasant
circumstances—think of his having been “viewed” by jurors； and
“sat upon” by coroners； and of his very doubtful position in the
family ever afterwards。 It seems to me such an indelicate sort of
thing that I really think the girl ought to have been put to death by
the state to prevent its happening。 But I tease you perhaps。 You
would rather be alone？ My dear Ned； most willingly。 God bless
you。 I shall be going out presently； but we shall meet to…night； or if
not to…night； certainly to…morrow。 Take care of yourself in the
mean time； for both our sakes。 You are a person of great
consequence to me； Ned—of vast consequence indeed。 God bless
you！’
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With these words； the father； who had been arranging his
cravat in the glass； while he uttered them in a disconnected
careless manner； withdrew； humming a tune as he went。 The son；
who had appeared so lost in thought as not to hear or understand
them； remained quite still and silent。 After the lapse of half an
hour or so； the elder Chester； gaily dressed； went out。 The younger
still sat with his head resting on his hands； in what appeared to be
a kind of stupor。
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Chapter 16
series of pictures representing the streets of London in
Athe night； even at the comparatively recent date of this
tale； would present to the eye something so very different
in character from the reality which is witnessed in these times；
that it would be difficult for the beholder to recognise his most
familiar walks in the altered aspect of little more than half a
century ago。
They were； one and all； from the broadest and best to the
narrowest and least frequented； very dark。 The oil and cotton
lamps； though regularly trimmed twice or thrice in the long winter
nights； burnt feebly at the best； and at a late hour； when they were
unassisted by the lamps and candles in the shops； cast but a
narrow track of doubtful light upon the footway； leaving the
projecting doors and house…fronts in the deepest gloom。 Many of
the courts and lanes were left in total darkness； those of the
meaner sort； where one glimmering light twinkled for a score of
houses； being favoured in no slight degree。 Even in these places；
the inhabitants had often good reason for extinguishing their lamp
as soon as it was lighted； and the watch being utterly inefficient
and powerless to prevent them； they did so at their pleasure。 Thus；
in the lightest thoroughfares； there was at every turn some
obscure and dangerous spot whither a thief might fly or shelter；
and few would care to follow； and the city being belted round by
fields； green lanes； waste grounds； and lonely roads； dividing it at
that time from the suburbs that have joined it since； escape； even
where the pursuit was hot； was rendered easy。
It is no wonder that with these favouring circumstances in full
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and constant operation； street robberies； often accompanied by
cruel wounds； and not unfrequently by loss of life； should have
been of nightly occurrence in the very heart of London； or that
quiet folks should have had great dread of traversing its streets
after the shops were closed。 It was not unusual for those who
wended home alone at midnight； to keep the middle of the road；
the better to guard against surprise from lurking footpads； few
would venture to repair at a late hour to Kentish Town or
Hampstead； or even to Kensington or Chelsea； unarmed and
unattended； while he who had been loudest and most valiant at
the supper…table or the tavern； and had but a mile or so to go； was
glad to fee a link…boy to escort him home。
There were many other characteristics—not quite so
disagreeable—about the thoroughfares of London then； with
which they had been long familiar。 Some of the shops； especially
those to the eastward of Temple Bar； still adhered to the old
practice of hanging out a sign； and the creaking and swinging of
these boards in their iron frames on windy nights； formed a
strange and mournful concert for the ears of those who lay awake
in bed or hurried through the streets。 Long stands of hackney…
chairs and groups of chairmen； compared with whom the
coachmen of our day are gentle and polite； obstructed the way and
filled the air with clamour； night…cellars； indicated by a little
stream of light crossing the pavement； and stretching out half…way
into the road； and by the stifled roar of voices from below； yawned
for the reception and entertainment of the most abandoned of
both sexes； under every shed and bulk small groups of link…boys
gamed away the earnings of the day； or one more weary than the
rest； gave way to sleep； and let the fragment of his torch fall
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hissing on
